Islam has two Eids — Eid al-Fitr, when the fast of Ramadan ends, and Eid al-Adha, at the climax of the Hajj (see The Islamic Calendar and Festivals). Both begin the same way: the whole community gathers in the morning for a special prayer of two rak'ahs, followed by a sermon.

"The Prophet (ﷺ) used to proceed to the Musalla on the days of Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Adha; the first thing to begin with was the prayer and after that he would stand in front of the people … (i.e. Khutba)."

— Sahih al-Bukhari 9561

How binding it is differs by school — wajib for the Hanafis, an emphasised sunnah for the Malikis and Shafi'is, and a communal obligation for the Hanbalis — but all treat it as one of the great gatherings of the year.202122

Before the prayer

  • Dress your best. Adorning oneself for Eid was the custom of the Prophet's ﷺ time — 'Umar once brought him a cloak to wear "during the 'Id and when the delegations visit."11
  • Eat first on Eid al-Fitr — the Prophet ﷺ "never proceeded (for the prayer) on the Day of 'Id-ul-Fitr unless he had eaten some dates," an odd number of them.12 On Eid al-Adha, wait: "he would not eat on the day of Adha until he prayed."13 Zakat al-Fitr, the charity that closes Ramadan, is paid before the prayer: the Prophet ﷺ "ordered the people to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr before going to the 'Id prayer."14
  • Say the takbir. The Quran ties Eid al-Fitr to glorifying God "for that [to] which He has guided you."18 Saying the takbir aloud is recommended from the night before Eid al-Fitr until the prayer, and through the days after Eid al-Adha.202122

Eid · on the way to the prayer

The takbir of Eid 22

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ

Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, lā ilāha illa-llāh, wa-llāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, wa lillāhi-l-ḥamd

God is the Greatest, God is the Greatest; there is no god but God; and God is the Greatest, God is the Greatest, and to God belongs all praise.

A widely used wording reported from the Companions; other wordings are also used.

  • Everyone comes. Umm 'Atiyyah said the women were told to come out on Eid — even girls who rarely left home, and women on their period, who "stand behind the men and say Takbir along with them and invoke Allah along with them and hope for the blessings of that day."15

When and where

The prayer is in the morning, once the sun has risen clear of the horizon, and before midday.202122 The companion 'Abdullah ibn Busr complained when an imam was late, saying that they used to have finished by the forenoon.9 The Prophet ﷺ prayed it at the open prayer-ground (musalla) outside the mosque;1 today it is prayed in parks, open grounds, and large mosques.

There is no adhan and no iqama for it — no call of any kind.3 Nor is there any voluntary prayer before or after it: "The Prophet (ﷺ) went out and offered a two rak'at prayer on the Day of 'Id ul Fitr and did not offer any other prayer before or after it."2

The prayer, step by step

The Eid prayer is two rak'ahs like any other, with one difference: extra takbirs — "Allahu Akbar" said several times with raised hands — near the start of each rak'ah. The schools count them differently, so both ways are shown. You will be following an imam; just say each takbir with him.

  1. 1

    Begin the prayer

    Make the intention and say the opening Allahu Akbar, as in any prayer.

  2. 2

    The extra takbirs — first rak'ah

    Before reciting Al-Fatihah, the imam says the extra takbirs, pausing briefly between each:

  3. 3

    Recite

    The imam recites Al-Fatihah and a surah aloud — the Prophet ﷺ often recited Al-A'la (87) in the first rak'ah and Al-Ghashiyah (88) in the second,7 or Qaf (50) and Al-Qamar (54).8 Then bow, rise, and prostrate twice as usual.

  4. 4

    The extra takbirs — second rak'ah

    Standing for the second rak'ah:

  5. 5

    Finish the prayer

    Complete the rak'ah — bowing, rising, the two prostrations, the final sitting with the tashahhud and salawat — and end with the tasleem.

  6. 6

    The sermon

    After the prayer, the imam stands and gives the khutbah.1 Listening is the sunnah, though the Prophet ﷺ made it optional: "We shall deliver the sermon; he who likes to sit for listening to it may sit and he who likes to go away may go away."10

Missed an extra takbir, or lost count? The prayer is still valid — the extra takbirs are not among the pillars of the prayer — so just carry on with the imam.202122

After the prayer

  • Go home a different way. "On the Day of 'Id the Prophet (ﷺ) used to return (after offering the 'Id prayer) through a way different from that by which he went."16
  • On Eid al-Adha, the sacrifice comes after the prayer — "So pray to your Lord and offer sacrifice [to Him alone]."19
  • Eid on a Friday? The Prophet ﷺ said the Eid prayer is sufficient for whoever does not want to attend Jumu'ah that day, "but we shall offer the Friday prayer."17 Anyone who does not attend Jumu'ah prays Dhuhr.202122 (See Jumu'ah.)

In short

On Eid morning: wash, dress well, eat dates (on Eid al-Fitr), and go out saying the takbir. The prayer is two rak'ahs with no adhan or iqama, extra takbirs near the start of each rak'ah — seven and five, or three and three, depending on the school — and a sermon afterwards. Follow the imam, and take a different road home. For the other prayers of the year, see Beyond the Five.